Josh Thole To Return Early?
According to The New York Times, there’s a slight possibility that catcher Josh Thole could return early from his Venezuelan Winter League stint.
Thole is currently playing for Leones de Caracas, and Mets officials are concerned for his safety after the recent kidnapping of Victor Zambrano’s mother and the murder of his cousin.
From the New York Times article:
“We’re doing our due diligence regarding the entire situation,” Mets General Manager Omar Minaya said. “We’re looking into it to make sure Josh knows what’s going on and we know that he is safe.”
The Mets have received reports that Thole is enjoying his time in Caracas without any concerns about his safety, and that he hopes to stay through his scheduled departure date, Dec. 8.
The kid definitely needs all the reps he can get, but three less weeks of winter ball are not going to be the difference-maker in terms of whether he’ll be MLB-ready next April, so the Mets may play it safe and get him home.
So if you are to criticize the Mets hierarchy for not pulling Thole out of the league earlier, then you should also be equally critical to every other team who has players in the league as well. And just about every team in baseball has players in the Venezuelan League. Does that mean all of those teams don’t care about their players’ safety? Are they all pathetic for failing to make a decision? Will they all have to overpay to get a free agent to sign with them?
I love you Joshua! <3
http://www.leones.com/colectivo_bateadores.php
Why is it assumed that other teams are providing proper protection for their players but the Mets are not? You have no evidence of the contrary. There needs to be such a thing as objective criticism. The Mets are not just ‘pouting.’ Read the statement from Omar above again. He is reviewing the situation and doing whatever is in his power to keep his player(s) safe. And there’s no need to withdraw him from competition or surround him with an armored cavalcade if he deems there being no threat to his players’ well being.
There was just an attack at Fort Hood in Texas. Does that mean you can no longer send your son or your daughter to an army base anymore because it is unsafe? Shouldn’t the analogy also apply to the country of Venezuela?
Please do not let your personal disdain for the Mets front office cloud your judgement, and don’t jump to conclusions that every decision they ever make is wrong, especially when it deals with a life/death situation.